By Mare Pagel  |  Been There, Done That  |  October 30, 2026

 

Have you ever noticed that the smaller the company, the bigger the promises in those investment newsletters?

 

A billionaire has supposedly made a secret investment. A tiny company is about to change the world. And ordinary investors have one last chance to get rich before Wall Street discovers it.

 

Oh, and there's usually a countdown clock.

Welcome to 80 Proof, where we investigate the story before considering the stock.

 

The $86 Million Mystery

Recently, I received a promotion claiming SpaceX had wired $86 million to a tiny company and taken a major stake in its most important project.

 

The company worth investigating is Solaris Energy Infrastructure, Inc. (NYSE: SEI), a business involved in power infrastructure.

The investment promotion linked an $86 million transaction to SpaceX. But the reported transaction involved an investor identified as CTC and a Solaris joint venture. That doesn't establish that SpaceX wrote the check.

So there's our assignment, fellow detectives: investigate SEI, examine the company's filings, and find out what the investment actually means before believing the promotional headline.

 

Interesting? Absolutely.

 

Proof of a terrific investment? Not even close.

 

Before getting excited, I'd want to know the company's name, whether its shares are publicly traded, and what SpaceX actually purchased.

 

An investment in a particular project isn't necessarily an investment in the company itself. And even a genuine business relationship doesn't guarantee that shareholders will make money.

 

The promotion's claim is a starting point for research, not an established fact.

 

Five Questions Worth Asking

Before I get carried away by the next spectacular investment opportunity, I ask:

Who’s the company? Give me a name and a ticker, not a mystery.

Where’s the evidence? Show me official filings, company announcements, or reliable reporting.

How does it make money? Exciting technology doesn’t automatically mean profits.

What’s the risk? Debt, competition, losses, and overpriced shares can spoil a wonderful story.

Who’s selling the excitement? If I must buy a newsletter to learn the secret, somebody’s already making money — and it isn’t necessarily me.

 

Eighty Years and Still Asking Questions

I enjoy investing research. I especially enjoy discovering companies working behind the scenes on new technology.

 

But I’ve lived long enough to know that a good sales pitch and a good investment are two very different things.

 

A little curiosity is healthy.

A little skepticism is even healthier.

And if somebody tells me I must act before midnight?

 

I’ll put the coffee on and investigate in the morning.

 

That’s 80 Proof.

 

— Mare 🌹

 

80 Proof is an educational column, not personalized financial advice. The SpaceX claim discussed here comes from an investment promotion and has not been independently verified.

A Little Age, A Little Wisdom, and a Healthy Dose of Skepticism

 

By Mare Pagel  |  Been There, Done That  |  October 30, 2026

 

You've probably heard of 80-proof whiskey.

 

Well, I've reached 80 proof myself — without the whiskey!

 

Eighty years of living, learning, working, making mistakes, recognizing opportunities, and occasionally wondering how some people manage to sell the same old nonsense in brand-new packaging.

 

And that's where 80 Proof comes in.

 

This is my new Friday column about investing, investigating, and asking questions before believing the next spectacular headline.

 

I enjoy researching stocks, new technologies, and the companies quietly building tomorrow's world. But I've also learned that a good story doesn't automatically make a good investment.

 

A billionaire's name in a headline doesn't guarantee a fortune. A tiny company with a revolutionary idea doesn't necessarily have a profitable business. And an advertisement shouting Act Now! is usually a good reason to slow down.

 

Here at 80 Proof, we'll look beyond the sales pitch. We'll explore interesting companies, investigate investment claims, and share what we discover along the way.

 

No crystal balls. No guaranteed winners. And absolutely no requirement to buy somebody's expensive newsletter.

 

Just curiosity, common sense, a little humor, and eight decades of perspective.

 

I've earned my 80 Proof. Now let's put it to work!

 

— Mare🌹

 

80 Proof is an educational and conversational column, not personalized financial advice.

Tuesday News | The 80 Detector

  October 28, 2026

 

Apparently, Retirement Savings Are Now a Criminal Growth Industry

By Mare | Been There, Done That | Belated Tuesday News, October 27, 2026

Well, folks, apparently somebody forgot to tell the scammers that we’re supposed to be enjoying retirement.

The Federal Trade Commission reports that Americans age 60 and older lost approximately $3 billion to fraud in 2025. Three BILLION dollars! And that’s just what was reported.

Investment scams accounted for a substantial share. Now, I’ve spent plenty of time investigating those online advertisements promising fabulous returns, secret investments, and opportunities that will supposedly change my life before breakfast.

And I have a question: If everybody on Facebook knows how to become a millionaire, why are they all trying so desperately to get my $250?

The Senior Stereotype Needs a Tune-Up

Older adults are not necessarily more likely to fall for fraud than younger people. But when older victims do lose money, the losses can be especially painful.

Maybe we seniors have learned a thing or two after decades of dealing with salespeople, politicians, questionable investments, and those wonderful extended automobile warranties.

Artificial Intelligence Joins the Party

As if ordinary scammers weren’t enough, artificial intelligence has given them a shiny new toolbox: fake voices, convincing emails, manufactured videos, and endorsements from people who never endorsed a thing.

Imagine a phone call from someone who sounds exactly like your grandson, urgently asking for money. Twenty years ago, we worried about strangers selling aluminum siding. Now we have to wonder whether the caller is even a person!

And yes, I recognize the irony of writing this with help from artificial intelligence. At least my AI assistant isn’t asking for my banking password.

My 80 Detector Says…

Before sending money, ask: Who is behind this offer? Can I independently verify it? Why must I act RIGHT NOW?

If the answers don’t make sense, close the page. If a caller claims to be a family member in trouble, hang up and call that person using a number you already know.

One Final Thought

Getting older doesn’t mean getting foolish. We’ve survived recessions, inflation, questionable politicians, technological revolutions, and more sales pitches than anyone should endure.

We can survive internet scammers, too—by asking questions, checking sources, and warning one another.

Because the only thing I want my retirement savings funding is my retirement. Not somebody else’s yacht.

Until next Tuesday, keep your coffee hot, your passwords private, and your 80 Detector fully charged!

— Mare | Been There, Done That | https://homesharetucson.com

 

Source notes: https://www.ftc.gov/reports. Protecting Older Consumers 2025-2026: A Report of the Federal Trade Commission